An agricultural engineering firm based in Manea has raised £17,350 for a children’s hospice with a £250 a ticket raffle to support one of their customers whose daughter died last year.

Cambs Times: Alyson and Neil Clark are setting off on a 990 mile tractor ride in memory of their daughter MikaylaAlyson and Neil Clark are setting off on a 990 mile tractor ride in memory of their daughter Mikayla (Image: Archant)

FJS Services held the draw at an open day in support of Neil Clark and his wife Alyson.

The pair made headlines in November when they drove a tractor 990 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats, towing a candy pink trailer in memory of four year old Mikayla.

The raffle proceeds mean the total raised in her memory for East Anglian Children’s Hospice (EACH) has now reached almost £40,000.

Alyson said: “I know we have said on many occasions but this money will go a long way to making sure EACH can carry on being there for many families.

Cambs Times: Mikayla Clark inspired the charity tractort runMikayla Clark inspired the charity tractort run (Image: Archant)

“Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this amount, be it financially, your well wishes or liking and sharing our posts - without you all this wouldn’t have been possible.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think we would achieve this amount. The aim was to give something back for the care we received.

“We don’t think we are special, we just wanted to make sure EACH could be there for another family who faced the unimaginable like we did. “We would have been lost without them. They were with us and still are every step of the way.”

Also known as Little Miss Giggles, a name given to her by the Manea Pre-School she attended, Mikayla was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour a few days after her fourth birthday.

Palliative treatment saw her condition improve enough for the Stonea family to enjoy a treasured six months - periods of which were spent at EACH’s hospice in Milton – before she died on 12 April.

Top prize in the raffle was an irrigation pump worth £14,750, built and donated by FJS Services itself.

Other prizes included a peddle tractor, high street vouchers, barbecue, tool sets and bottles of wine.

Fred, owner of FJS Services, said: “As we were celebrating 30 years in business we wanted to help a charity. Neil is a customer of FJS Services so we decided we’d like to support his and Alyson’s cause.

“Without the help of our suppliers and regular customers the amount raised would not have been possible.”

Sophie Baker, EACH Cambridgeshire Community Fundraiser, added: “Alyson and Neil’s fundraising over the last few months has been a fitting tribute to Mikayla and it’s fantastic that local businesses such as FJS Services have given them their backing.”